Tico & the Triumphs

I'm right back into listening to WFMU Ichiban Rock and Soul internet radio station and there are so many great songs on it.
This caught my attention. When I looked into it more, Tico and Triumphs turns out to be one of Paul Simon's (of & Garfunkel) early bands.
I went straight on eBay, bought the original 7in and had it sent to Newbold's Bike Shop, knowing I'd see him in a few weeks. He remembered to bring it out to the Superhooligan (along with Tommy James and the Shondells 'I think we're alone now' - yes, as covered by Tiffany in 1987).
Expect to hear both played at January's  Motor Bike Expo in Verona if you come by our stand. G

Motor Bike Expo - thirsty work

The packing for Verona took less time than I'd anticipated. See you at the Motor Bike Expo at the weekend. We'll be on Mr Martini's stand. MP

Motor Bike Expo, Verona

After missing 2014's edition, we're going back to the Motor Bike Expo, Verona in January. We've always enjoyed this massive show and made a lot of friends there.
We'll be on the fun-filled Mr Martini stand.
See you there! G

Verona 2013 pt.5: The People

 

Standing behind a bike booth for three solid days could be boring, but the primary target of any Sideburn show weekend is to amuse ourselves first and foremost. Second is to try flog some stuff.
Travelling with a record player and 300 7in singles is the way we keep ourselves from getting bored. Then there's people-watching. Bike shows are good for that. We stand still and, at Verona, 100,000 people walk past us. These are some of our favourites. G

Verona 2013 Pt.4: The Italians

It's been a busy month, so I'm still catching up with Verona snaps. Above is a gorgeous South Garage Kelevra, a liquid-cooled Ducati of some sort, perhaps in an early Monster chassis, but I'm not sure which, it's changed that radically.

Our good friends Zaeta brought this forest print DT (with a TM engine). Read about Zaeta, and one of its founders, Paolo Chiaia, in Sideburn 11.

 Spain's Radical Ducati brought a bevy of Bologna beauties.

David Caforio came with a recently finished Guzzi. He said the seat was inspired by the Banned Triumph Don Castro raced and was featured in Sideburn 7.

 Lorenzo's SWM won the Sideburn award. We'll feature it in a forthcoming issue.

Mr Martini doesn't just modify Triumphs...

Verona 2013 Pt3: The Triumphs

 TPR's latest Triumph twin. This Milanese outfit do a lovely job. They make the headlight nacelle and tank.

Very bizarre Meriden twin with a streamlined seat. Is the seat suspended? I should have looked closer when I took the photo, but I was on a mad rush around.

 Mr Martini's idea of a bagger was a Rocket III with a Harris-style Endurance twin headlight fairing, these very chic panniers and twin Zard exhaust. Strangely alluring.

 Danny Hard9 seems to build a lovely skinny little glittery Triumph for every Verona Show.

Mr Martini builds beautiful bikes. This is Jerolamo - a Thunderbird triple (before the Thunderbird became a 1600cc Twin cruiser). Ducati front end, stock frame and swingarm, new sub-frame. It's the business. It won Best Cafe Racer. G

Verona 2013 pt2: The Harleys

There are a ton of Harleys at the Motor Bike Expo, but this one, The Greyhound, was my favourite. Cafe racer style, but with high bars; proper forks and brakes; chain conversion and a great colour. 

 Free Spirits Sportster.

 Neat Ironhead.

 The Jap tank on a hardtail has been done too much, for my taste, but still a neat Shovel.

 And another...

 And another, very HWZN-style.

This commuter bike caused a stir. The builder looks like Lemmy. 

Flathead.

Custom bike as concept bike. No brakes, no suspension, no wiring, no go, but it still stopped me dead. Those are 125 racing Marchesini wheels with slicks. I liked this a lot. G

Verona 2013 pt.1: Headbanger Saten

It's taken a while to sort the photos from the Motor Bike Expo 2013, Verona. Here's the start. Lots more to follow.

Italian chopper company Headbanger, produced this 'concept'. Headbanger normally make good-looking, fully EU, TUV legal chops and lowriders. This is their first non-V-twin.

It's a Honda 600, with very angular, alloy bodywork. There's a tentative price of €9000 (if there's enough interest to go into production).

Expect to see this bike all over the blogs soon (you (and they) saw it here first).

You can tell Headbanger are Italian. Instead of selling black T-shirts with skulls on them, they have burnt orange cashmere sweaters, with skulls on them. G